Appropriate Public Involvement in Local Environmental Governance: A Framework and Case Study

Public participation involving local people has become a basic principle of contemporary environmental governance. However, the extent to which members of the public are interested in, and capable of, being involved effectively in governance varies widely, and often is not addressed satisfactorily. Context is a key determinant of the appropriate degree of public involvement, but contextual factors that determine an appropriate degree of public involvement are not well specified. This article presents a framework that can be used to assess public involvement in local environmental governance. Five characteristics shape the appropriate degree of public involvement. The framework is used in a critical assessment of a process used to develop a water sharing plan for the Hunter River Catchment, Australia.